ailment

noun

ˈāl-mənt How to pronounce ailment (audio)
Definition of ailmentnext
as in disease
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning a doctor known for successfully treating patients with chronic back ailments

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ailment For the third time in a year, his young career has been temporarily derailed by an injury — this time, a thumb ailment that will sideline him into August. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026 The respiratory ailment's name comes from an outbreak that hit attendees of an American Legion convention in Philadelphia in 1976. — ABC News, 11 July 2026 Lyonne was arrested for a DUI in 2001; in 2005, she was admitted to the intensive-care unit of a New York hospital for a variety of ailments. — Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 11 July 2026 His biceps ailment, however, quickly resolved with a day off. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for ailment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ailment
  1. disease
  2. illness
  3. ill
  4. condition
  5. fever
  6. sickness
Noun
  • DeepMind’s AlphaFold, for example, has used to AI to make available new structures for more than 200 million proteins, opening new pathways for research into disease and medicine.
    — Belonging Forum, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • The lab got its start with studies of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the 1900s, when ranchers and cattle were dying from the then-unknown disease.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
Definition of disease
Noun
  • Kyle Schwarber went 1 for 2 with two walks after missing three games with an illness.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • There may also be benefits related to skin care, respiratory illness, sleep deprivation and even dementia.
    — Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of illness
Noun
  • Blaming billionaire wealth-hoarding for America’s ills would poll very well among the nation’s anthropology departments.
    — Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 19 July 2026
  • Last month, Kwon’s team, in collaboration with Seongju Kim at Hanbat National University, in Daejeon, South Korea, presented its solution to HBM’s future ills.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 8 July 2026
Definition of ill
Noun
  • The girl had been diagnosed with a rare gene defect that produces a neurodevelopmental condition known as Snijders Blok-Campeau syndrome, Science reported.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
  • The medical professional also checked the boxes saying Grayson would be incapacitated within six months and his condition was unlikely to improve.
    — Jerry Nowicki, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Definition of condition
Noun
  • Described as a raunchy and chaotic fever dream, Zucker’s Stamptown special is a love letter to everyone who ever helped him and his collaborators along the way.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 21 July 2026
  • World Cup fever led millions of children to sign up for youth leagues.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 20 July 2026
Definition of fever
Noun
  • Health officials urged that anyone experiencing symptoms seek medical care immediately, as the sickness can be treated with antibiotics when diagnosed early.
    — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 30 July 2026
  • Other teams, including Remco Evenepoel’s Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, may be tempted to try a move on Alpe d’Huez tomorrow, in case of sickness — a move of such aggression that it would never usually be considered.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 23 July 2026
Definition of sickness

Browse Nearby Words

ailing
ailment
ailments
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Cite this Entry

“Ailment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ailment. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ailment

Nglish: Translation of ailment for Spanish Speakers

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